MISC Pit Crew News

2010 Championship "Tire Specialist" award announced: Champion Tire & Wheel announced the 2010 Sprint Cup "Consistently Smooth" award goes again, to Hendrick Motorsports's Lisa Smokstad and Zack Miller. The award recognizes the skill and effort of the team's tire specialist in overseeing the Lowes #48 Chevy tire and wheel program. Both Lisa and Zach teamed up to handle the organization and management of the championship effort. The tire specialist is a critical piece in the performance formula for a championship team as it takes over 2,500 tires and wheels to run the full Sprint Cup season. The lead crystal trophy will be presented to Lisa & Zack at the team's shop in Charlotte with #48 team manager Michael Landis, and crew chief Chad Knaus. In addition to the Sprint Cup series recipients, Champion Tire and Wheel will also present Penke Racing's Jim "JD" Davis, the Championship tire specialists award for the Brad Keselowski driven Nationwide Series team, and Justin Gardner, the tire specialist for Germain Racing and the Todd Bodine driven Camping World Truck Series Championship effort.(Champion Tire and Wheel PR)(12-3-2010)

Some Spotters on the move: Silly season is just starting for NASCAR spotters.
Keith Barnwell goes from #1-Jamie McMurray to spotting for #56-Martin Truex Jr.
Lorin Ranier goes from the #6 Ford of David Ragan to the #1 team and McMurray.
Brett Griffin, fomerly Elliott Sadler's sponsor on the #19 RPM team that will close, replaces Rocky Ryan as the spotter for the #31 Chevy of Jeff Burton and is expected to continue his spotter duties with Elliott Sadler in the Nationwide Series.
Rocky Ryan could be a possible replacement for Ranier on the #6 car with David Ragan.
Kevin Hamlin started spotting for #33-Clint Bowyer at Texas in November.(FoxSports)(11-19-2010)

Season finale for Hauler Challenge: Freightliner Trucks, the Official Hauler of NASCAR, will hold its season finale of the Freightliner Run Smart Hauler Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 6 prior to the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge. The challenge is a timed skills test among hauler drivers (backing up, blind jack knife turns, tight spots and cones) that becomes increasingly more difficult with each round. Events have been held throughout the 2010 season at Las Vegas, Talladega, Chicagoland and Kansas. The four finalists represent two organizations - Rocky Boggs with the #56 Sprint Cup team and Bryan "Rocket" McClure with the #47 Sprint Cup team of Michael Waltrip Racing, and Greg Sorber with the #77 Sprint Cup team and George Larabee with the #22 Nationwide Series team of Penske Racing. It will be a Michael Waltrip Racing and Penske Racing showdown. First place will receive $30,000, second $20,000, third $10,000 and fourth $5,000. The challenge will take place at 7:30 am on Texas Motor Speedway's pit road. Freightliner Trucks recently announced their renewal as the Official Hauler of NASCAR. The official partnership, which started in 2006, will continue through 2015. Bill “Stump” Lewis, transporter driver for Penske Racing’s #2 Miller Lite team, won the event in 2009.(Freightliner Trucks)(11-5-2010)

2010 Sprint Pit Crew Challenge

Hamlin's team wins Pit Crew Challenge: Denny Hamlin's seven-member team changed four tires, put in gas and pushed the car 40 yards in 23.132 seconds to edge defending champion #31-Jeff Burton's crew and collect $70,650 winning the NASCAR's Pit Crew Challenge. Hamlin's crew chief Mike Ford said they'd take the first pit stall for Saturday's All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a perk for winning this single-elimination competition. The #11 team beat #88-Dale Earnhardt's crew in the semifinals, ending Hendrick Motorsports' best showing in the event. The Burton team routed #39-Ryan Newman's crew to reach its second straight final. Hamlin's team includes gas man Scott Woods; catch-can man John Eicher; front tire changer Mike Hicks and carrier Brandon Pegram; rear tire changer Jon Sherman and carrier Heath Cherry; and jack man Nate Bolling.
Driver #18-Kyle Busch's front tire changer Nick Odell and carrier Brad Donaghy headlined the individual awards timed in the opening rounds with an event-record 13.903 seconds. Other winners, who collected $10,000 for each competition, were rear tire changer Dustin Necaise and carrier Matt Kreuter (14.322 seconds) of Clint Bowyer's #33 team; Bolling of Hamlin's crew (5.573 seconds); and gas man Brad Pickens and catch-can man Travis Gordon of Mark Martin's #5 car (10.518 seconds).
The competition included the top 24 crews in the Sprint Cup standings, with the top eight getting a bye into the second round. Teams faced each other in head-to-head stops. There were eight identically marked cars, four on each side of the arena floor. Teams simultaneously changed tires on two cars, filled the gas tank with water on another and a jack man lifted both sides of the fourth car. The jack men then ran to the teams' regular cars, lined up side-by-side at the corner of the arena floor, and pushed them to the finish as teammates joined to help after their tasks.
Teams received time penalties for loose lug nuts, spilled gas and other infractions, and that led to an early upset. A 3-second penalty for a loose lug nut knocked top-seeded Busch's #18 team out in the second round and allowed the #71 team of driver Bobby Labonte, which has been strapped for funding much of the season, to advance. The #71 crew was beaten in the quarterfinals by Earnhardt's team. Jeff Gordon's team was ousted in the quarterfinals by Newman's crew, thanks to a loose lug nut. Newman's crew also beat Jimmie Johnson's #48 team, which has never won the event.(ESPN)(5-19-2010)

NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge tonight, entry list:< The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman will feature the top-24 NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesTM pit crews in a head-to-head competition at 7:00 pm/et Wednesday, May 19 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling Time Warner Cable Arena box office at (800) 495-2295. SPEED’s broadcast of the event begins at 9 pm/et. Eligible teams include all teams currently qualified for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman winning team. The remaining unfilled positions became available to the car owners ranked highest in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner point standings as of May 19, 2010, who were not otherwise eligible for this event.(PR)(5-19-2010)

Format stays the same for Pit Crew Challenge : The 2010 edition of the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman will retain the same exciting format as it did a year ago. The fan-friendly competition features the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ top pit crews and is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 19 at Time Warner Cable Arena. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling Time Warner Cable Arena box office at (800) 495-2295. SPEED’s broadcast of the event begins at 9 p.m. Now in its sixth year, the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge is the only indoor event sanctioned by NASCAR and precedes an all-star lineup of events including NASCAR Rev’d Up on Thursday, May 20, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race held Saturday, May 22 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony slated for Sunday, May 23.

Competition Format

Teams are seeded for the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge based on the following:
- Seeding will be determined by the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner point standings as of May 17, 2010.
- The top-eight teams in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner points will receive a bye into the second round of the competition.
- The remaining eligible teams will be ranked in order of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner points seeded as Nos. 9-24 and will compete in a head-to-head format in the first round of the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge.

Competition Rounds

- Seeding Round: The seeding round will be held at 4:30 p.m. Featuring the top-eight teams in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner points, teams will compete in four head-to-head runs with the quickest time receiving the top, overall seed for the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge. The remaining seven teams in the seeding round will be seeded Nos. 2-8 in order of their times (quickest to slowest).

- Round One: All teams seeded Nos. 9-24 compete in a head-to-head, single-elimination format with the eight winning teams advancing to the second round of competition.

o Additionally, the fastest crew member at each station will be crowned as the individual champion in the following categories: front-tire changer and carrier, rear-tire changer and carrier, jack man and gas man, and catch-can man. Each of the winning individual crew members will receive a $10,000 prize. Teams competing in the seeding round and first round will have individual skills’ times count toward the individual skills’ titles.

o “Name Your Opponent Round” - The highest-remaining team advancing into round three may choose its opponent from any of the other seven teams advancing into round three. The selection process will continue with the next, highest-remaining, non-selected team until the round three line up (four total) is set.
o The head-to-head competition continues with the same format as round two. Four heat winners advance to round four (Semifinals).

- Round Four Semifinals: The winning teams from round four compete head to head with the two winners advancing to the championship round.

- Round Five Finals: The winning teams from round four compete head to head with the winner crowned as the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Champion.

- Note: In the event of a tie in any of the rounds, the car owner who is ranked higher in the current 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner point standings as of May 17, 2010, will prevail.

- The finishing order of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman determines the order of pit selection for the race that each competing team is eligible for - Sprint Showdown or NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Eligibility: All teams qualified for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which includes NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winners from 2009 and 2010, NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winners of the past 10 years and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champions of the past 10 years who are active drivers and have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event during the 2009 or 2010 season. Also eligible is the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge winner. If there are no new event winners, the remaining unfilled positions will become available to the car owners ranked highest in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner point standings as of May 17, 2010, who are not otherwise eligible for this event.

Sprint Pit Crew Challenge tickets on sale March 13: Tickets for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman, featuring a fan-friendly, pit-crew competition between the top-24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pit crews, are on sale March 13. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling the Time Warner Cable Arena box office at (800) 495-2295. The NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge is scheduled for Wednesday, May 19 at 7 p.m. ET at Time Warner Cable Arena and will air on SPEED at 9 p.m. that evening. Now in its sixth year, the competition precedes NASCAR Rev'd Up, a NASCAR-themed festival held in Charlotte, N.C. on May 20, and is a signature lead-in event to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Saturday, May 22 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Aspire PR)(3-11-2010)

2010 MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown & Awards

MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown Results / Winners: Pro Motor Engines once again made history Thursday, capturing their fourth consecutive MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown championship with a record-breaking build time. In a fierce neck-and-neck battle, the Pro Motor Engines team of Josh Hypes and Matt Jackling built a complete Chevrolet R07 race engine and successfully ran it for one minute in an astounding 18 minutes, 3 seconds, beating last year's record by over a minute and defeating the Hendrick Motorsports team of Mike Maiwald and Scott Vester.
Team Hendrick Motorsports and team Pro Motor were neck-and-neck in the competition, with Pro Motor firing their engine first. Maiwald and Vester were close behind, but while their engine was running during the mandatory one minute, it became silent at the 57-second mark due to a disconnected fuel line. Hendrick reconnected and re-fired their engine, ending with a final build time of 20 minutes, 1 second.
"This competition is intense, no question about it," said Hypes referring to the MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown, which took place as part of "NASCAR Rev'd Up," a kick off event for All Star Race Week in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. "This was our first year representing Pro Motor after Dennis (Borem) and Darrell (Hoffman) took the championship the previous three years in a row. We are thrilled to win it again."
"We gave it our best," said Maiwald of the runner-up team. "Even though we lost, we still feel pretty good for making it to the final round. We want to say thanks to MAHLE for continuing to host this competition and for their support of the engine builders." Former crew chiefs Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds hosted the MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown, which is a tiered, three-round competition designed to recognize the knowledge, skill and speed of professional engine builders who assemble special performance engines for NASCAR teams. A total of six teams competed. Joining Pro Motor Engines and Hendrick Motorsports were: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines, Penske Racing Engines, Triad Racing Technologies, and 2009 runner-up Roush-Yates Engines. 2010 MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown champions, Hypes and Jackling took home a cash prize for their efforts and will have their name engraved on the prestigious Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy.(MAHLE PR)(5-25-2010)

Mahle Engine Builder Showdown returns to Charlotte area: The 11th Annual Mahle Engine Builder Showdown - hosted by NASCAR personalities Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds - will be held in uptown Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday, May 20 at 5:30pm/et. The competition will take place during "NASCAR Rev'd Up," an event during NASCAR Sprint All-Star Week, on the side stage between 3rd and Mint Streets.

The Mahle Engine Builder Showdown is a tiered, three-round competition designed to recognize the knowledge, skills and speed of professional engine builders who assemble special performance engines for NASCAR teams. Former NASCAR crew chiefs Hammond and McReynolds will be calling the action for the second consecutive year. With their extensive engine building knowledge, both will feel right at home alongside the sport's top engine builders. For the second year since the Mahle Engine Builder Showdown's inception, engine builders will compete in a fierce neck-and-neck race against the clock to build a complete Chevrolet R07 race engine in the fastest time and successfully run it for one minute.

The three-time Mahle Engine Builder Showdown champions, Dennis Borem and Darrel Hoffman of Pro Motor Engines, will be in attendance as honorary guests.

The first two elimination rounds will take place at the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI) in Mooresville, N.C. on Monday and Tuesday, May 17-18. The two fastest teams will face off against each other in the championship event at "NASCAR Rev'd Up" Thursday to win the Showdown's grand prize - the prestigious Randy Dorton Memorial trophy and a cash award.

"The Mahle Engine Builder Showdown is always an exciting event to watch, and gives us all a greater appreciation for the talents of these outstanding NASCAR engine builders" said Bill McKnight, Team Leader - Training for Mahle Clevite. "Last year, we saw the closest finish in the 10-year history of the Showdown, where the champions edged out the competition by a mere 17 seconds. It will be interesting to see what team will step in to win the title and become the 2010 Mahle Engine Builder Showdown champion."

For the second consecutive year, the 2010 Mahle Engine Builder Showdown will share the spotlight with "NASCAR Rev'd Up," a kick-off event to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Week. The six-hour, fan-friendly event on Thursday, May 20 from 4:00 -10:00 pm/et in uptown Charlotte features driver appearances, show cars and interactive displays, and a free-admission concert featuring North Carolina-based group, Paper Tongues, and headlining bands Switchfoot and Parachute.

Mahle Clevite is an exclusive NASCAR Performance Partner for engine parts such as gaskets, bearings, and piston rings. In addition, Mahle Clevite is a sponsor within the NASCAR Prize Money and Decal Program in all domestic and international series.

About Mahle The Mahle Group is one of the top 30 automotive suppliers and the globally leading manufacturer of components and systems for the internal combustion engine and its peripherals. Around 43,000 employees work at over 100 production plants and eight research and development centers. In 2009, Mahle generated sales in excess of EUR 3.9 billion. More info at Mahle Clevite site.(Mahle Clevite)(5-12-2010)

Tiebreaker Gives Kenseth’s Crew Tissot Pit Road Season Championship: The closely contested Tissot pit road competition, which saw four teams tied for the lead, came down to a tiebreaker to determine the season pit crew champion.
Matt Kenseth’s #17 crew was awarded the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship as a result of winning the tiebreaker that called for the team whose driver finished the highest in the final NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings. Kenseth’s team shared the lead with the crews for #24-Jeff Gordon, #18-Kyle Busch and #1-Jamie McMurray, each scoring four pit road victories during the 2010 campaign. The #17 crew won the tiebreaker with Kenseth leading the way among the four drivers with a fifth-place finish in the driver point standings. For winning the season-long Tissot Pit Road Precision Award title the #17 team will receive a $105,000 bonus from Tissot plus Tissot watches for the pit crew members and driver.
The #17 Roush Fenway Racing crew will also receive an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas to accept the prize money and Tissot watches at the Champion's Week NASCAR/NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon, Thursday, Dec. 2 in the Bellagio Ballroom.
Kenseth’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Justin Nottestad (front-tire changer), Joe Crossen (front-tire carrier), Dave Smith (rear-tire changer), Garrett Reding (rear-tire carrier), Cameron Cobb (jackman), Brad Robison (gasman) and Dave McDonald (catch can). The crew chief is Jimmy Fennig and the pit crew coach is Andy Ward.
"The entire #17 Crown Royal pit crew did a tremendous job this season in the pits,” said pit crew coach Ward. “We worked very hard on pit stops throughout the year, so it’s an honor to know that for the second year in a row, our Roush Fenway organization has won the Tissot award." Last year’s Tissot Pit Road Precision Award winner also came from the Roush Fenway Racing stable with Greg Biffle’s #16 crew taking top honors. A total of 19 different teams won the Tissot award in 2010. Each weekly-winning crew received $5,000 plus a Tissot watch. The weekly Tissot Pit Road Precision Award winner went to the team whose car spent the least amount of time on pit road and finished on the lead lap. The competition was designed to recognize and reward the extraordinary talents of Sprint Cup pit crews (Tissot)(11-24-2010)

Johnson’s Team Wins Tissot Pit Road Award in Phoenix: Jimmie Johnson’s #48 team won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Phoenix. The #48 crew [formerly the #24 crew], out of the Hendrick Motorsports stable, picked up the top prize as a result of Johnson’s Lowe’s Chevy spending the least amount of time on pit road (170.246 seconds) and finishing on the lead lap during the Kobalt Tools 500. The team’s effort helped Johnson post a fifth-place result in the season’s penultimate race. The #48 over-the-wall crew consists of: Clay Robinson (front-tire changer), Mike Houston (front-tire carrier), Joe Slingerland (rear-tire changer), Matt Ver Meer (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Cook (jackman), Caleb Hurd (gasman), Jamie Frady (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Greg Morin. Heading into Sunday’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, four teams are currently tied for first place in the Tissot season standings. The teams for Matt Kenseth (#17), Jeff Gordon (#24 the old #48 crew), Kyle Busch (#18) and Jamie McMurray (#1) lead with each scoring four pit road wins. In the event there is a tie at the end of the season for the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship, the tiebreaker goes to the team whose driver finishes the highest in the Sprint Cup point standings. The Tissot season championship crew will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. Tissot has already paid out $175,000 in prize money with $5,000 going to the weekly-winning team.(Tissot)(11-18-2010)

Martin’s Crew Captures Tissot Pit Road Award in Texas: Mark Martin’s #5 crew claimed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. It was the first pit road win of the season for the #5 crew and the 17th different Tissot winner of the 2010 season. Martin’s #5 Carquest/GoDaddy.com Chevy spent the least amount of time on pit road – 305.658 seconds -- during the AAA Texas 500. The quick work by Martin’s crew helped the veteran driver post a third-place finish. The #5 over-the-wall crew consists of: Kyle Turner (front-tire changer), JD Holcomb (front-tire carrier), Josh Kirk (rear-tire changer), Dion Williams (rear-tire carrier), Bailey Walker (jackman), Brad Pickens (gasman) and Travis Gordon (catch can). The crew chief is Alan Gustafson and the pit crew coaches are Mark Mauldin, Walt Smith and Matt Skeen.
Four teams are currently tied for first place in the Tissot season standings. The leaders are the crews for Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray with each team scoring four pit road wins. Clint Bowyer’s crew is one behind with three wins. The Tissot season championship crew will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. Tissot has already paid out $170,000 in prize money with $5,000 going to the weekly-winning crew. In the event there is a tie at the end of the season for the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship, the tiebreaker goes to the team whose driver finishes the highest in the Sprint Cup point standings.(Tissot)(11-11-2010)

It’s Now a 4-Way Tie for Tissot Pit Road Championship: With Matt Kenseth’s #17 team winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway, the chase for the prestigious pit crew season championship is currently in a four-way tie. The crews for Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray have each scored four pit road wins with three Cup races remaining in the 2010 schedule. Clint Bowyer’s crew is one behind the leaders with three Tissot wins. The Tissot season championship crew will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. Tissot has already paid out $165,000 in prize money with $5,000 going to the weekly-winning crew. In the event there is a tie at the end of the season for the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship, the tiebreaker goes to the team whose driver finishes the highest in the Sprint Cup point standings.
The Talladega pit crew win by the #17 team was a result of Kenseth’s Ford Fusion spending the least amount of time on pit road – 337.598 seconds – during the AMP Energy Juice 500 event. The #17 over-the-wall crew consists of: Justin Nottestad (front-tire changer), Joe Crossen (front-tire carrier), Dave Smith (rear-tire changer), Garrett Reding (rear-tire carrier), Cameron Cobb (jackman), Brad Robison (gasman) and Dave McDonald (catch can). The crew chief is Jimmy Fennig and the pit crew coach is Andy Ward.(Tissot)(11-3-2010)

Kyle Busch's team wins Tissot Pit Road Award at Martinsville: By winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway, Kyle Busch's #18 crew moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Tissot season standings. With four Sprint Cup races remaining in the 2010 season, the crews for Busch, Jeff Gordon and Jamie McMurray lead the Tissot standings with four wins each. The crews for Matt Kenseth and Clint Bowyer are tied for second with three wins. In the event there is a tie at the end of the season for the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship, the tiebreaker goes to the team whose driver finishes the highest in the Sprint Cup point standings. Along with $5,000 going to the weekly winning pit crew, the team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. The #18 crew's victory at Martinsville came as a result of Busch's M&M's Toyota spending the least amount of time on pit road - 280.163 seconds. The effort helped Busch post a strong fourth-place finish in the TUMS Fast Relief 500. Busch's over-the-wall crew consists of: Nick Odell (front-tire changer), Brad Donaghy (front-tire carrier), Jake Seminara (rear-tire changer), Kenny Barber (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fender (jackman), Tom Lampe (gasman), Jason Hinson (catch can). The team's pit crew coach is Mike Lepp and the crew chief is Dave Rogers.(Tissot)(10-26-2010)

McMurray’s Crew Tied for 1st Following Tissot Pit Road Win in Charlotte: It was another double win for the #1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team with driver Jamie McMurray taking the race victory and his crew winning the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Saturday night’s Sprint Cup event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was the fourth pit road victory of the season for the #1 crew, which moved into a tie for first place in the Tissot season standings with Jeff Gordon’s #24 crew. Three crews – Matt Kenseth’s, Kyle Busch’s and Clint Bowyer’s -- are one win behind with three victories each. There are five Cup races remaining in the 2010 season. Along with $5,000 going to the weekly winning pit crew, the team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. In the event there is a tie at the end of the season for the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award championship, the tiebreaker goes to the team whose driver finishes the highest in the Sprint Cup point standings. McMurray’s #1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on Charlotte’s pit road during the Bank of America 500 -- 284.026 seconds.
McMurray’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Cory DeMarco (front-tire changer), Doug Riepe (front-tire carrier), Chris Taylor (rear-tire changer), Adam Mosher (rear-tire carrier), Tracy Duncan (jackman), Benjy Grubbs (gasman) and Eric Hoyle (catch can). The team’s crew chief is Kevin “Bono” Manion.(Tissot)(10-20-2010)

Bowyer’s Crew Wins Tissot Pit Road Award at California: Clint Bowyer’s crew captured the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. It was the third win of the season for the #33 crew, which moved into a four-way tie for second place in the overall Tissot standings with six races remaining. Jeff Gordon’s #24 crew continues to hold on to a one-race lead with four wins. Along with $5,000 going to the weekly winning pit crew, the team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. Bowyer’s #33 The Hartford Chevy spent the least amount of time on pit road during the Pepsi Max 400 – 290.065 seconds. Coming in a close second was Ryan Newman’s #39 Tornados Chevy at 290.355 seconds and third was Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Chevy at 293.442. Bowyer’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Jason Pulver (front-tire changer), Austin Craven (front-tire carrier), Dustin Necaise (rear-tire changer), Matt Kreuter (rear-tire carrier), Nick Terry (jackman), Bryan Smith (gasman) and Michael Hodges (catch can). The pit crew coach is Matt Clark.(Tissot)(10-13-2010)

Harvick’s Crew Captures Tissot Pit Road Award at Kansas: Kevin Harvick’s crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. It was the first pit road win of the season for the #29 team, which will receive $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. Harvick’s #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road during the Price Chopper 400 -- 194.316 seconds. Jeff Gordon’s #24 team leads the Tissot standings with four wins. The crews for #17-Matt Kenseth, #18-Kyle Busch and #26-Jamie McMurray are tied for second with three wins each. There are seven Cup races remaining in 2010. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver.(Tissot)(10-6-2010)

#18 Crew Captures Tissot Pit Road Award at Dover: Kyle Busch’s pit crew claimed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s AAA 400 Sprint Cup race at Dover. It was the third Tissot win of the season for the #18 crew, which moved into a three-way tie for second place in the Tissot standings. Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 crew continues to lead with four wins. The weekly-winning crew receives $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. The Joe Gibbs Racing team finished 1-2-3 in the Tissot pit road competition in Dover with Busch’s #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota spending the least amount of time on pit road – 254.478 seconds. Denny Hamlin’s #11 FedEx Toyota was second (255.463) and coming in third was Joey Logano’s #20 Home Depot Toyota (257.578).
The #18 over-the-wall crew consists of: Nick Odell (front-tire changer), Brad Donaghy (front-tire carrier), Jake Seminara (rear-tire changer), Kenny Barber (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fender (jackman), Tom Lampe (gasman), Jason Hinson (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Mike Lepp and the crew chief is Dave Rogers (Tissot)(9-29-2010)

Bowyer's Crew Wins Tissot Pit Road Award at New Hampshire: Clint Bowyer's pit crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday's Sylvania 300 Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The #33 team out of the Richard Childress Racing stable also won the race with Bowyer claiming victory in the first of the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Bowyer's Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet spent the least amount of time at the Loudon, N.H. track -139.513 seconds. Bowyer's crew consists of: Jason Pulver (front-tire changer), Austin Craven (front-tire carrier), Dustin Necaise (rear-tire changer), Matt Kreuter (rear-tire carrier), Nick Terry (jackman), Bryan Smith (gasman) and Chad Haney (catch can). Shane Wilson is the crew chief and Matt Clark is the pit crew coach. The weekly-winning crew receives $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. With nine Sprint Cup races remaining in the 2010 season, Jeff Gordon's No. 24 crew leads the Tissot standings with four wins. The crews for #17-Matt Kenseth and #1-Jamie McMurray are tied for second with three wins.(Tissot)(9-22-2010)

Kenseth’s Crew Wins Tissot Pit Road Award at Richmond: Matt Kenseth’s pit crew claimed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Saturday night’s Air Guard 400 Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. It was the third Tissot win of the season for the #17 over-the-wall crew out of the Roush Fenway Racing stable. The win moved Kenseth’s crew into a second-place tie with Jamie McMurray’s crew in the Tissot standings. Jeff Gordon’s #24 crew continues to lead the pit road competition with four wins.
The weekly-winning crew receives $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. Kenseth’s Crown Royal Ford spent the least amount of time on Richmond’s pit road – 157.637 seconds – during the 400-lap, 300-mile race. Coming in second was Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Chevy (158.848) and third was Carl Edwards’ No. 99 Kellogg’s/Cheez-It Ford (159.202).
The #17 over-the-wall crew consists of: Justin Nottestad (front-tire changer), Joe Crossen (front-tire carrier), Dave Smith (rear-tire changer), Garrett Reding (rear-tire carrier), Cameron Cobb (jackman), Brad Robison (gasman) and Dave McDonald (catch can). The crew chief is Jimmy Fennig and the pit crew coach is Andy Ward.(Tissot)(9-15-2010)

Stewart’s Crew Claims Tissot Pit Road Award at Atlanta: Tony Stewart’s pit crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday night’s Emory Healthcare 500 Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was the second Tissot win in the past three races for the #14 crew members, whose quick pit stop late in the race helped Stewart capture his first victory of the season.
Stewart’s #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road – 310.802 seconds – during the 325-lap, 500-mile race. Coming in a close second was Martin Truex’s #56 NAPA Toyota with a time of 310.939. Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Chevy was third at 314.168.
The #14 over-the-wall crew consists of: Kelly Kellis (front-tire changer), Todd Drakulich (front-tire carrier), Daniel Smith (rear-tire changer), Mike “Shrek” Morneau (rear-tire carrier), Mike Casto (jackman), Jeff “Gooch” Patterson (gasman), Rick Pigeon (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Joe Piette and the crew chief is Darian Grubb.
The weekly-winning crew receives $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. After 25 races Jeff Gordon’s #24 crew continues to lead the Tissot competition with four wins while Jamie McMurray’s #1 crew is second at three wins. Stewart’s crew is in a five-way tie for third with two wins.(Tissot)(9-8-2010)

Reutimann’s Crew Captures Tissot Pit Road Award at Bristol: David Reutimann’s pit crew pocketed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was the second Tissot win of the season for Reutimann’s #00 crew, which moved into a four-way tie for third place in the weekly pit-road competition. Jeff Gordon’s #24 continues to lead the Tissot standings with four wins. The weekly Tissot winner receives $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. Reutimann’s Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota spent the least amount of time on pit road – 199.713 seconds -- during the 500-lap race at the half-mile oval. The quick work by the No. 00 crew helped Reutimann to a second-place finish. Coming in second was Kyle Busch’s #18 Doublemint Toyota – 199.763 seconds and third was Gordon’s #24 DuPont Chevrolet – 204.369. Reutimann’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Ryan Langley (front-tire changer), Chris Hall (front-tire carrier), Lee Cunningham (rear-tire changer), Donnie Marvel (rear-tire carrier), Tony Cardamone (jackman), Aaron Pieratt (gasman) and Jeff Seaberg (catch can). The team’s crew chief is Rodney Childers and the pit crew coach is Greg Miller.(Tissot)(8-25-2010)

Kyle Busch's Crew wins Tissot Pit Road Award at Watkins Glen: Kyle Busch's pit crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup road race at Watkins Glen International. It was the second Tissot win of the season for the #18 crew, which moved into a tie for third place in the season standings. Jeff Gordon's #24 crew continues to lead the Tissot competition with four wins while Jamie McMurray's #1 crew is second at three wins. Busch's #18 M&M's Toyota Camry spent the least amount of time on pit road during the 90-lap race in central New York - 84.438 seconds. Coming in second was Carl Edwards' #99 Aflac Ford (84.821) and third was Kurt Busch's #2 Miller Lite Dodge (85.358). The quick work by the #18 crew helped Busch post an eighth-place finish. The No. 18 over-the-wall crew consists of: Nick Odell (front-tire changer), Brad Donaghy (front-tire carrier), Jake Seminara (rear-tire changer), Kenny Barber (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fender (jackman), Tom Lampe (gasman), Jason Hinson (catch can). The team's pit crew coach is Mike Lepp and the crew chief is Dave Rogers. The winning pit crew in each Sprint Cup race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver (Tissot)(8-11-2010)

Biffle’s Crew Wins Tissot Pit Road Award at Pocono: The #16 pit crew, which played a vital role in Greg Biffle’s Sprint Cup victory Sunday at Pocono Raceway, won the weekly Tissot Pit Road Precision Award. It was the first Tissot win of the 2010 season for the #16 crew, which captured the 2009 Tissot season championship with six wins. The quick two-tire pit stop by the #16 crew in the closing stages of Sunday’s Sunoco Pennsylvania 500 helped Biffle score the first win of the season for Roush Fenway Racing. Biffle dedicated the win to team owner Jack Roush who is recovering from an airplane crash. Biffle’s #16 3M Ford Fusion spent the least amount on pit road during the 200-lap, 500-mile race. Coming in second was Carl Edwards’ #99 Aflac Ford Fusion and third was Tony Stewart’s #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevy.
The #16 over-the-wall crew consists of: Todd Zeigler (front-tire changer), Collin Pasi (front-tire carrier), Kyle Power (rear-tire changer), Kevin McDowell (rear-tire carrier), Rodney Fetters (jackman), Billy Manchester (gasman), Ryan Dextraze (catch can) and Chris Elliott (windshield). The team's crew chief is Greg Erwin and the pit crew coach is Andy Ward. Greg Gordon’s #24 DuPont crew leads in the Tissot standings with four victories. Jamie McMurray’s #1 Bass Pro Shops/McDonald’s crew is second with three wins. The winning pit crew in each Sprint Cup race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver.(Tissot).(8-4-2010)

McMurray’s Crew Pockets Tissot Pit Road Award at Indianapolis: The #1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team scored a double victory Sunday (July 25) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with driver Jamie McMurray winning the Brickyard 400 and his crew claiming the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award. It was the second straight Tissot win for the #1 crew, which moved into sole possession of second place in the Tissot standings with three wins. Jeff Gordon’s #24 crew leads with four wins. McMurray’s #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road – 264.706 seconds – during the 160-lap, 400-mile race. The quick work helped McMurray become the third driver in NASCAR history to win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year. Coming in second was Mark Martin’s #5 GoDaddy.com crew (270.460 seconds), followed by Kevin Harvick’s #29 Shell/Pennzoil crew (272.249).
McMurray’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Cory DeMarco (front-tire changer), Doug Riepe (front-tire carrier), Chris Taylor (rear-tire changer), Adam Mosher (rear-tire carrier), Tracy Duncan (jackman), Benjy Grubbs (gasman) and Eric Hoyle (catch can). The team’s crew chief is Kevin Manion.
The winning pit crew in each Sprint Cup race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver (Tissot).(7-29-2010)

McMurray’s Crew Wins Tissot Pit Road Award at Chicagoland: Jamie McMurray’s crew grabbed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Saturday night’s (July 10) NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway. It was the second Tissot win of the season for the #1 McDonald’s crew, which also took top honors at the May 8th Cup race at Darlington Raceway. McMurray #1 McDonald’s Chevy spent the least amount of time on pit road – 189.002 seconds – during the LifeLock.com 400. The fast and accurate work by the McDonald’s crew helped McMurray to a fifth-place finish. For the second straight week Clint Bowyer’s #33 Cheerios crew came in a close second (190.819 seconds). Finishing third was Martin Truex Jr.’s #56 NAPA crew (191.086). McMurray’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Cory DeMarco (front-tire changer), Doug Riepe (front-tire carrier), Chris Taylor (rear-tire changer), Adam Mosher (rear-tire carrier), Tracy Duncan (jackman), Benjy Grubbs (gasman) and Eric Hoyle (catch can). The team’s crew chief is Kevin Manion.
Jeff Gordon’s #24 crew leads in the Tissot standings with four wins. McMurray’s crew along with the crews for Truex and Matt Kenseth are tied for second with two wins. The winning pit crew in each Sprint Cup race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver (Tissot).(7-13-2010)

Jeff Gordon's Crew Wins Tissot Pit Road Award in New Hampshire: Jeff Gordon's crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday's (June 27) NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Loudon, N.H. It was the third win of the season for the #24 crew, which moved into sole possession of first place in the Tissot season standings. The pit crews for Martin Truex Jr. and Matt Kenseth are tied for second with two wins each. Gordon's #24 DuPont Chevy spent the least amount of time on pit road - 172.661 seconds - during the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The quick work helped Gordon to a fourth-place finish. Coming in second was Kevin Harvick's #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevy (176.258) and finishing third was Joey Logano's #20 Home Depot Toyota (177.679). Gordon's over-the-wall crew consists of: Clay Robinson (front-tire changer), Mike Houston (front-tire carrier), Joe Slingerland (rear-tire changer), Matt Ver Meer (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Cook (jackman), Caleb Hurd (gasman), Jamie Frady (catch can), Colin Fambrough (back-up tire changer) and Andy Kruep (eighth man). The team's pit crew coach is Greg Morin. Along with winning $5,000 for the weekly pit crew competition the crew with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the end of the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule will collect a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver.(DMF Communications/Tissot)(6-29-2010)

Said’s Crew Pockets Tissot Pit Road Award in Sonoma: Boris Said’s crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s (June 20) Sprint Cup road race at Infineon Raceway. Said’s #26 crew, which will collect $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch for the win, is the 13th different team in the first 16 races to take top honors in the weekly pit road competition. A combination of quick work on pit road and a savvy race strategy resulted in Said’s No. 26 California Air National Guard Ford Fusion spending the least amount of time on pit road – 116.717 seconds. The pit road effort also helped the colorful Said to an impressive eighth-place finish in the Toyota/Save Mart 350k race. The No. 26 over-the-wall crew consists of: Gordon Arbitter (front-tire changer), Herman Reiss (front-tire carrier), Kyle Collins (rear-tire changer), Dwayne Doucette (rear-tire carrier), Kevin Kreutzer (jackman), Rick Pennington (gasman), Erick MacPherson (catch can). The crew chief is Frank Stoddard. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. The pit crews for Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon share in a three-way tie in the Tissot standings with two wins each.(DMF Communications/Tissot)(6-24-2010)

Kyle Busch’s Crew Pockets Tissot Pit Road Award in Pocono: Kyle Busch’s crew claimed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway. It was the first Tissot win of the season for Busch’s crew, which became the 11th different winner of the award in the first 14 races of the 2010 season. Busch’s #18-M&Ms Pretzel Toyota Camry spent the least amount of time on pit road – 485.618 seconds – during the 204-lap, 510-mile race. The quick and steady work on pit road helped Busch to a runner-up finish in the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500. Busch’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Nick Odell (front-tire changer), Brad Donaghy (front-tire carrier), Jake Seminara (rear-tire changer), Kenny Barber (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fender (jackman), Tom Lampe (gasman), Jason Hinson (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Mike Lepp and the crew chief is Dave Rogers. The winning pit crew in each Sprint Cup race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. The pit crews for Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon share in a three-way tie in the Tissot standings with two wins each.(Tissot)(6-10-2010)

Kenseth’s Crew Wins Tissot Pit Road Award in Dover: Matt Kenseth’s crew claimed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday’s (May 16) Autism Speaks 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. It was the second Tissot win of the season for the #17 crew, which also won in Phoenix on April 10. The only other team to score two Tissot wins after 12 Cup races is Martin Truex Jr.’s #56 crew. Kenseth’s Ford Fusion spent the least amount of time on pit road – 255.005 seconds – during the 400-lap, 400-mile race at Dover’s Monster Mile. The quick work by the #17 crew helped Kenseth to a third-place finish. The #17 Roush Fenway Racing over-the-wall crew consists of: Justin Nottestad (front-tire changer), Joe Crossen (front-tire carrier), Dave Smith (rear-tire changer), Garrett Reding (rear-tire carrier), Cameron Cobb (jackman), Brad Robison (gasman) and Dave McDonald (catch can). The winning pit crew in each Sprint Cup race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. Kenseth’s and Truex’s crews lead the Tissot standings with two wins each. Eight teams are tied for second with one win.(Tissot)(5-18-2010)

McMurray’s Crew Claims Tissot Pit Road Award in Darlington: Jamie McMurray’s over-the-wall crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Saturday night’s Showtime Southern 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the historic Darlington Raceway. The #1 crew, which became the 10th different Tissot winner of the season [in 11 races], edged out the competition in Darlington with seven quick pit stops. The performance helped McMurray post a second-place finish. McMurray’s McDonald’s Chevy spent the least amount of time on pit road – 305.523 seconds. McMurray’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Cory DeMarco (front-tire changer), Doug Riepe (front-tire carrier), Chris Taylor (rear-tire changer), Adam Mosher (rear-tire carrier), Tracy Duncan (jackman), Benjy Grubbs (gasman) and Eric Hoyle (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Chip Goode, and the crew chief is Kevin Manion. The winning pit crew in each Sprint Cup race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. Martin Truex Jr.’s #56 crew continues to lead the Tissot standings with two wins after eleven races. Nine teams are in second place with one win.(Tissot)(5-12-2010)

Newman’s Crew Captures Tissot Pit Road Award in Richmond: Ryan Newman’s U.S. Army over-the-wall crew claimed the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Saturday night’s Crown Royal Heath Calhoun 400 Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. The Army crew put together a string of fast pit stops which helped Newman post an eighth-place finish in the 400-lap, 300-mile race at the .75-mile short track. Newman’s #39 Army Medicine Chevrolet, which paid tribute to the U.S. Army Medical Department and Army Health Care personnel, spent the least amount of time on pit road – 197.999 seconds. Newman’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Scott Brzozowoski (front-tire changer), Josh Mick (front-tire carrier), Ryan Pepe (rear-tire changer), James Houk (rear-tire carrier), Andrew Turner (jackman), Michael Moore (gasman), Andy Rueger (catch can) and Jay Guarneri (Eighth Man). The team’s crew chief is Tony Gibson and the pit crew coach is Joe Piette. The winning pit crew in each Sprint Cup race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. After 10 races Martin Truex’s No. 56 crew leads the Tissot standings with two wins. Eight teams are tied for second with one win.(Tissot)(5-4-2010)

Tissot to continue pit crew award: Tissot, the official watch and timekeeper of NASCAR, will continue to recognize Sprint Cup pit crews in 2010 with the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award. The Tissot Pit Road Precision Award will be presented in each of the 36 Cup races to the team whose car spends the least amount of time on pit road and finishes on the lead lap. The winning pit crew in each race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. The Tissot Pit Road Precision Award is coming off a competitive 2009 season which saw 18 different teams claim the weekly competition. The championship went to Greg Biffle’s #16 3M pit crew, which won a season-high of six times.(Tissot PR)(2-12-2010)

2010 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award

#11 Pit Crew Wins the 2010 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award: Excellent pit stops can make or break a race and a season for a team. For Denny Hamlin and his #11 FexEx Toyota, his pit crew helped him gain a spot in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, challenge the front of the field throughout the season and finish second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.
That's why Mechanix Wear is proud to announce that the #11 FedEx pit cre w from Joe Gibbs Racing is the winner of the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award for the 2010 season. This award is the only authentic competition voted on by crew chiefs. The #11 FedEx pit crew was selected for its fast pit stops, flawless performance and incredible effort over the 38-race season. The team also won the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award for the second quarter. The #11 FedEx pit crew travelled to Las Vegas to be honored at the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup celebration, where they took home the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew trophy and the $100,000 grand prize. Crew chief, Mike Ford of the #11 FedEx pit crew is proud of the impressive job his team did during the 2010 season.
"I'm proud of all of our guys for earning the Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award," said Mike Ford, crew chief of the Joe Gibbs Racing #11 FedEx Toyota. "I had a great deal of confidence in our guys throughout the season and they certainly deserve a lot of credit for the success we experienced this year. NASCAR has a long season and everyone on our team puts in a tremendous amount of effort each week, so it's great to have them recognized with this well deserved award."
Michael Lepp, Athletic Director and Paul Alepa, Pit Crew Coach for the #11 FedEx team, offered their five tips for success as:
1. Preparation/Planning; 2. Deliberate Practice; 3. Focus; 4. Fitness; 5. Mental Toughness.
The members of the #11 FedEx pit crew include: Gas Man: Scott Wood; Jack Man: Nate Bolling; Catch Can: John Eicher; Front Tire Changer: Mike Hicks; Front Tire Carrier: Brandon Pegram; Rear Tire Changer: Jonathan Sherman; Rear Tire Carrier: Heath Cherry.(VMG/MXW)(12-3-2010)

#29 Over-the-Wall Team Voted Fourth-Quarter Award: The pit crew of the #29 Shell Pennzoil Chevy for Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing has earned fourth-quarter honors in the 2010 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award competition while on their way to a chance of winning the Sprint Cup. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award , which is determined by a vote of each team's crew chief, is given quarterly to the top-performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award presented during Champion's Week in Las Vegas. The award is part of the NASCAR Prize Money and Decal Program, also referred to as the contingency program, which provide teams prize money and weekly awards based on performance in several categories. Mechanix Wear, the #1 glove in racing, is the Official Glove of NASCAR used by nearly all pit crew members in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This year, Harvick and the #29 team had three wins, 15 top-fives and 25 top-10's. While Harvick is turning fast laps behind the wheel, crew chief Gil Martin over-the-wall gang has been on their game as well, performing consistent, quick pit stops all year.Members of the #29 Shell Pennzoil pit crew include: Dail Long (Front Tire Changer), Terry Spaulding (Front Tire Carrier), Jonathon Billy (Rear Tire Changer), Erik Pringle (Rear Tire Carrier), Carey Wimbish (Jackman), Mike Morrison (Fueler), and Phil Gould (Catch Can Man). The team's pit crew coach is Gil Martin (VMG)(11-21-2010)

#00 Pit Crew earned 3rd quarter honors: For their outstanding efforts on pit road, the #00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota pit crew for David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip Racing has earned third-quarter honors in the 2010 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award competition. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award, is determined by a vote of each team’s crew chief, is given quarterly to the top performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award presented during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas. This year, Reutimann and the #00 team have posted one win, five top fives and six top 10s. While Reutimann is turning fast laps behind the wheel, crew chief Rodney Childers’ crew has been on its game as well, performing consistent, quick pit stops all year. Members of the #00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota pit crew include: Ryan Langley (front-tire changer), Chris Hall (front-tire carrier), Lee Cunningham (rear-tire changer), Don Marvel (rear-tire carrier), Tony Cardamone (jackman), Aaron Pieratt [not Art Harris] (gasman), and Jeff Seaberg (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Greg Miller.(NASCAR)(10-13-2010)

#11 Team Tops On Pit Road In Second Quarter: The #11 FedEx Toyota team for Joe Gibbs Racing has earned second-quarter honors in the 2010 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award competition for its pit road performance in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Denny Hamlin and the #11 team have scored a series-leading five wins this season and are currently fourth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings. And while Hamlin is turning fast laps behind the wheel, crew chief Mike Ford’s group has been on its game as well, performing consistent, quick pit stops all year. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award, determined by a vote of each team’s crew chief, is given quarterly to the top-performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award presented during Champion’s Week in Las Vegas.
Members of the #11 FedEx Toyota pit crew include: Mike Hicks (front-tire changer), Brandon Pegram (front-tire carrier), Jonathan Sherman (rear-tire changer), Heath Cherry (rear-tire carrier), Nate Bolling (jackman), Scott Wood (gasman) and John Eicher (catch can). The team’s athletic director is Mike Lepp.
The #11 pit crew will be presented the second-quarter Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award Sunday during pre-race ceremonies prior to the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(NASCAR)(7-21-2010)

#56 Over-the-Wall Team Tops On Pit Road In First Quarter: As one of the best in speed, performance and pit road prowess thus far in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota over-the-wall team from Michael Waltrip Racing has earned first-quarter honors in the 2010 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award competition. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award, which is determined by a vote of each team’s crew chief, is given quarterly to the top-performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award presented during Champion’s Week in Las Vegas. The award is part of the NASCAR Prize Money and Decal Program, also referred to as the contingency program, which provide teams prize money and weekly awards based on performance in several categories. Mechanix Wear, the #1 glove in racing, is the Official Glove of NASCAR used by nearly all pit crew members in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Members of the #56 NAPA “Know How” pit crew include: Cory Quick (front-tire changer), Craig Curione (front-tire carrier), Shannon Myers (rear-tire changer), Mark Kennerly (rear-tire carrier), Brian Chase (jackman), Doug Newell (gasman) and Keith Koppenal (catch can). The team’s pit crew coach is Greg Miller. The #56 pit crew was presented the first-quarter Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award during Saturday night pre-race ceremonies at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(NASCAR)(5-25-2010)

2010 Pilot Truck Driver Challenge

Penske Tranport Driver wins Bristol event: #2 Penske Racing team hauler driver Bill Lewis won the Pilot Truck Driver Challenge Bristol Chicane Event, beating the competition with a fast time of 3:16:62 and zero penalties. #20 Joe Gibbs Racing driver Tom McCrimmon finished 2nd, followed by #83 Red Bull Racing driver Michael Williams. #56 Michael Waltrip driver Rocky Boggs leads the standings by 6 pts over #11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver Jerry Hess. The Pilot Truck Driver Challenge is a program for the NASCAR Sprint Cup truck drivers to compete and win a $50,000 grand prize along with second place ( $15,000 ) and third place ( $10,000 ) cash prizes. The Challenge is a Pilot Travel Centers safety initiative program. The program consists of chicanes, DOT checks and DOT quizzes along with Payback card visits and charity bonuses. The final event is in Charlotte in September More info, pics, etc at pilottruckchallenge.com.(8-24-2010)